Oneonta, N.Y. – The Ithaca men's tennis team (14-3, 7-0 Empire 8) defeated Hartwick (5-5, 3-2 Empire 8) 9-0 in a dual match Tuesday. Ithaca has won all seven of its conference matches on the year and 11 of its last 12 matches overall. The Bombers clinched a share of the Empire 8 regular season title and qualified for the Empire 8 Championship Tournament at St. John Fisher, May 2-3.

Sophomore Josh Rifkin (Homestead/Fort Wayne, Ind.) was a 6-0, 6-0 winner at second singles and freshman Jimmy Newton (Florida Virtual School/Englewood, Fla.) won by the same score at third singles. Junior Taylor Borda (West Morris-Mendham/Chester, N.J.) won at first singles and first doubles.

Senior Andrew Dunnick (Ithaca/Ithaca) teamed with freshman Mike Muraco (Fayetteville-Manlius/Manlius) to win at second doubles and both were singles winners.

The Bombers will host Nazareth at noon Saturday. Also, a match originally scheduled for April 7 against St. Lawrence has been rescheduled and will be played here in Ithaca on April 24 at 4:30 p.m.

Tennis Match Results
Ithaca vs Hartwick
04/14/09 at Oneonta, N.Y.

Ithaca 9, Hartwick 0

Singles competition
1. Taylor BORDA (IC) def. Jeff Boyd (HW) 6-3, 6-3
2. Josh RIFKIN (IC) def. Marcelo Navarro (HW) 6-0, 6-0
3. Jimmy NEWTON (IC) def. Matt Whitty (HW) 6-0, 6-0
4. Mike MURACO (IC) def. Sean Barr (HW) 6-4, 6-3
5. Dan LEVINE (IC) def. Peter Dumas (HW) 6-4, 6-4
6. Andrew DUNNICK (IC) def. Michael del Rosario (HW) 4-6, 6-3, 10-6

Doubles competition
1. Taylor BORDA/Josh RIFKIN (IC) def. Jeff Boyd/Marcelo Navarro (HW) 8-3
2. Andrew DUNNICK/Mike MURACO (IC) def. Peter Dumas/Matt Whitty (HW) 9-7
3. Seth MAGNANI/Jimmy NEWTON (IC) def. Sean Barr/Michael del Rosario (HW) 8-4

Team Records:
Ithaca 14-3, 7-0 E8
Hartwick 5-5, 3-2 E8